SUMMARY

At the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the PYD had seized control over areas in the northern parts of the country, while the regime focused on the conflict with Syrian insurgents. With the rise of of IS in Syria in 2013, the groups started clashing in PYD controlled areas in Al Hasakah and Raqqah governorates. During 2014, the conflict spread to Aleppo governorate as well. The majority of the fighting between IS and PYD took place in Kobane/Ayn al Arab town by the Turkish border in northern Raqqah governorate. IS launched a siege on Kobane in 2014 and managed to control the majority of the town and its surrounding areas. The PYD led an alliance to recapture Kobane, and with the help of US-led international coalition airstrikes, the PYD managed to regain control of the town in 2015.

In October 2015, the PYD created the SDF alliance together with other militia groups, minority groups and tribal men, and the IS-PYD conflict continued through the IS-SDF conflict.